wp-image-12160https://home.dictionaryofsydney.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/SideShowAlley1957.jpgSideshow alley at the Royal Sydney Easter Show 1957 By Raymond Morris. Contributed by National Museum of Australia [Slide 164, via NMA's Flickr set] (Raymond Morris Collection, courtesy of the photographer)600386/> Sideshow alley at the Royal Sydney Easter Show 1957 By Raymond Morris. Contributed by National Museum of Australia [Slide 164, via NMA's Flickr set] (Raymond Morris Collection, courtesy of the photographer)

What are your favourite memories about Sydney's Easter Show? The District Exhibits? The Grand Parade? Sideshow Alley? Or is it just horses, cows, the little ducklings and perhaps sore feet? The Sydney Royal Easter Show is a tradition that has continued for generations. The  show in Sydney traces its roots way back to 1823 when an agricultural show was held at Parramatta. But it really got going from the 1850s. It started to attract large numbers when it moved to Prince Alfred Park in 1869 and became the iconic event Sydneysiders know and love when the Agricultural Society of NSW moved the show to Moore Park Showgrounds in 1882. Do you remember the Moore Park Showgrounds in full swing? Many younger Sydneysiders wouldn't because the RAS went to their new digs at Homebush back in 1998. So this is the 19th year it has been at Homebush. Many of the iconic elements of the show have a long tradition: The Grand Parade dates from 1907 - so it's been going for over 100 years; and the wood chopping - one of my favourite events - dates back to 1899. There are so many different aspects to the show: industrial prowess and invention, agricultural prosperity, demonstration and harvest, education and carnival. The show attracts a diversity of people - its where the city meets the country. And all classes mix at the show. One of my favourite images dates from 1940 and shows a range of people sitting on a kerb resting their feet at the show. A little boy is going through his show bags - which includes, you'll notice, a cadbury's chocolate show bag.

wp-image-12157https://home.dictionaryofsydney.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/PeopleResting-EasterShow1940.jpgPeople resting at the Royal Easter Show March 1940. By Sam Hood. From the collection of the Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales [a4423006 / ON 204 Box 87/99] 400405/> People resting at the Royal Easter Show March 1940. By Sam Hood. From the collection of the Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales [a4423006 / ON 204 Box 87/99]

The mixing of social classes is the theme of Miles Franklin's novella Sydney Royal: Divertissement, a rollicking tribute to the human dramas of the show as expressed through a cast of strong-minded children and the luckless adults they drag into their adventures. Franklin's characters are satirical representations of Australian society, from the vice-regal family, the sideshow operators, the working class from Woolloomooloo, and the country 'woop' from Woop Woop but all are swept up together at the Royal Easter Show. The novella as published in 1947 also includes two poems by Miles Franklin: 'Ballard of Sydney Royal' and 'The Fortune Teller's Song. Sadly, I'm not going to get to the show this year, but I am going to read Miles Franklin's novella and look at all the fabulous photographs of the show in the Dictionary of Sydney, starting with Kate Darian-Smith's article. It's almost as good as being there... now, if only someone would get me a Bertie Beetle bag my show experience would be complete! Listen now If you missed today’s segment, you can catch up here via the 2SER website. Tune in 2SER Breakfast with Mitch Byatt on 107.3 every Wedensday morning at 8:20 am.